Putting people off dog ownership.....

Once upon a time, if I was speaking to a work colleague or friend and they mentioned getting a dog, I would have been really pleased and interested and helpful...

However, over the last year or so, if anyone has mentioned getting a dog, I seem to have done my hardest to put them off. Why, you might ask?

Statements like:
"I'd quite like a JRT, cos they're nice and small, and if you get loads of puppies off them, they won't take up too much room"

"I'm thinking about a small dog, and I've seen some Poodle cross Dachshunds in the paper, and I bet they're way cuter than Poodles on their own"

"Well, if we get a big dog, it won't live in the house as we don't have room"

"What about breeds that don't need exercise? I got told that loads of breeds don't actually need walking"

"I'm not paying THAT price for a pedigree... I saw some in the paper for £100"

And so on. The worst thing is that these are, apparantly, intelligent, educated people. Some are teachers, some are qualified professional staff etc. People that, in some cases, I've known for over 10 years.

Of course, I've given them the spiel about health tests, breed traits/characteristics, costs/risks involved in breeding, number of dogs in rescue etc, and it's been like talking to brick walls.

I've explained the costs involved in just OWNING a dog normally - injections, vet bills for injuries, time spent doing stuff with the dogs. I even showed a couple of the people our last vet bill for Murphy's torn nail (£150 )

It seems there are still these myths around that having a litter is good for your dog/the children/the economy/world peace etc. That pedigree dogs are only for people who want to show. That dogs from the paper/from a man down the pub are somehow 'better' than a dog with clear health tests. That dogs don't need walking/exercise/vet care...

So, I've figured out that I'm better off putting these people off owning a dog, since most of them don't seem to be able to grasp any sort of common sense about it all....

It's interesting isn't it, the reasons why people get a dog. Sadly it's far less interesting why these same people soon tire of their 'new purchase' and dispose of it as thoughtlessly as they bought it.

Well done you for trying to make them see sense.

It's so sad isn't it, what are things coming to?!

At least you are doing your bit though, putting people off! I've found myself doing it!

Just last night I heard "We've just bought a spaniel, him indoors is going to breed it, he stays at home with nowt to do all day anyway" - The guy in question is THICK, anti-social, cares for his mother full-time, lives in the roughest area around with no green space and has never owned a dog before - Oh my god!

Then a few months ago, another collegue - "Sold all the pups (Husky X her mothers old little dog) one cheeky cow tried to bring one back a month later, I told her it's nothing to do with me now, I just bred it"

I've got a friend who wants to get a husky because he thinks "they are gorgeous dogs".

I've desperately tried to explain to him that this may not be the ideal breed for someone who has never owned a dog and has also never had family dogs so has no experience of living with a dog and very little on how to raise one.

I've told him 'til i'm blue in the face that it is not easy to train any dog and he'll quite often say "how hard can it be" or "Monty's well trained though" - yes but that didn't happen overnight.

I can guarantee it all falls on deaf ears though and at some point in the future i'll probably be invited round to see a husky puppy and asked to impart training advice.

[QUOTE=esmed;1923994]I've got a friend who wants to get a husky because he thinks "they are gorgeous dogs".

Yes-the lady I sat next to at work said she would like to get one too as they are lovely looking. I said to her that as she and her husband both work full-time a husky left alone all day to its own devices would probably reduce her furniture to matchsticks and it was the breed for somone who could cycle with it for umpteen miles a day and walk marathons etc! Hopefully this put her off!

I always put people off my breed unless they pas my third degree questioning as to why they want a Kerry Blue as they are not suitable dogs for everyone as high energy and high grooming needs. 2 people who passed my "test" went on to get a puppy from Parker's breeder and one man rehomed an ex-show dog. We saw him recently after 3 years of when he saw my Kerries and admired them. He has a beautiful dog and was so proud of it-I was nearly crying!

I'm always trying to put people off having dogs too! It makes me laugh some of the things people assume about dogs.

Small dogs don't need exercise.

Short haired dogs don't shed hair.

Pedigree dogs are inbred and unhealthy.

Crossbreed dogs never get ill.

If you take them to puppy classes, then they are fully trained.

I do a cracking job of putting people off Estrelas too. On the surface they seem ideal: Don't need much exercise, don't eat much, usually fairly dog friendly (dependant on lines and socialisation). Then you tell them the bad points: They shed A LOT, they guard big time, which can be a major problem for people who often recieve guests, they bark A LOT, they can't always go offlead, they are very hard to train. That tends to do the trick! Let's face it, most people these days don't want to put any work into anything, and owning dogs can be hard work.

I think the ignorance extends to many other areas. However, buy the wrong car or computer, you can trade it for something more suitable and only your pocket book suffers. Buy the wrong dog, and an intelligent fellow creature can have a miserable life.

I have the same prob around here, people see pepsi and ask me where i got her from and ask the breeders number. But i always tell them that they are very very active dogs, very intellegent and need lots of mental stimulation, and need proper training as well. But the best bit is when i tell them that i walk her 2-3 hours a day people always seem to go off the idea lol.

Even now that im working i still get people saying ... eee i havnt seen you out and about, you must not be walking her now. Erm no thats because i get up at 6am to take her for an hour walk then when i get back at night time she is first priority and gets over an hour at night. They cant believe that i dont have somethign to eat first when i get in, or that i just 'cant be bothered' , but as many of you will know, the bairns come first and if they have been in the house all day i wouldnt not take them for a walk at night. Its just cruel

I have the opposite. We get people saying ''Ooooo, I love Springers but we decided against it because they need too much stimulation and time don't they?'' I find it really refreshing.

We have a great mix of people around here, with all sorts of dogs from Spinones to Chihuahuas and everyone seems so knowledgeable about their breed.

The only thing I wasn't happy about was a guy we used to bump into with a gorgeous Rotty. When the dog was about 10 months old he said he'd started leaving it outside but it was tearing up his garden and escaping so he was going to get an electric fence. He then also mentioned he would get an e-collar for him as sometimes he won't come back. I stood there mouth open unable to say a word! Now, if ever I hear that again, or any of the comments you describe I will be speaking up, for all the good it will do.

I do so agree with this ~ I've also found myself putting people off having dogs by pointing out all the downsides! And from personal experience, the more I learn about dogs & animal behaviour in general, the more I realise I don't know & how much I've got to learn! Plus the more I've learnt, the more cautious & wary I am of getting another dog whereas a few years ago I would have happily wanted to collect all the dogs needing homes from the local rescue.

I had a phone call from a friend a few days ago, whose colleague has just paid £2k for an 8 week old bull terrier pup. My friend has said that her colleague got the pup because it was a "trendy breed", that she was going to get designer outfits for it & was looking forward to all the jealous looks she gets as she parades it to her local pub. Today my friend called me again to say that her colleague's 2 year old child keeps getting nipped by the puppy & could I recommend a local dog trainer who could stop this happening. If not, the puppy will have to be rehomed ~ the "breeder" apparently won't take it back & won't refund their money. I just despair!